acenocoumarol and Rib-Fractures

A 48-year-old man, on acenocoumarol due to past aortic valve replacement, was referred to our emergency department for left thoracic pain, progressive dyspnea and fatigue gradually worsening over the past 24 hours. Thirty-one days ago he had suffered from left rib fractures due to a fall, while 15 days ago his regular follow-up chest X-ray was negative for hemopneumothorax. On admission, chest X-ray revealed left pleural effusion, while his peripheral blood hematocrit was 28% and the INR 3.57. Following plasma transfusion his INR recovered to two, but five hours later his blood hematocrit dropped to 22.6%. The hemothorax was then drained by a chest tube and followed by blood transfusion. Acenocoumarol might not have been the initiating factor of delayed hemothorax, but could be blamed for the exacerbation of bleeding. It is recommended that all patients with rib fractures, receiving anticoagulants should have a close surveillance until the 4th week post-injury.

Topics: Acenocoumarol; Anticoagulants; Diagnosis, Differential; Heart Valve Prosthesis; Hemothorax; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography; Rib Fractures